BMC-funded access works allow return of dry tooling festival to Masson Lees Quarry, Peak District

Rock Climbing
26 Aug
3 min read

Access improvements, funded by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust mean the new owners can reignite the popular MassonFest, a 'weekend of dry tooling fun' scheduled for 17-19 October 2025.

The access improvements at Masson Lees Quarry in Derbyshire, funded by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust as part of the Mend Our Mountains campaign, are now well underway, with the new, easy-access ramp down to the base of these popular, limestone climbing and dry tooling cliffs almost complete.

The works are being coordinated by father and son co-owners, Nick and Sam Lister. Sam says, "The ramp down to the base of the quarry has now become steps. It was quite steep and loose before, but this should improve access further, making it easier for people carrying heavy kit to get down to the base. We hope to lay a loose stone wall and flower bed on the banks either side to make it a bit more attractive. Any help that people could offer would be greatly appreciated. We have a GoFundMe linked on our website massonlees.co.uk and will be hosting a maintenance day 4 -5 October that people can get involved in."

Planning permission has been given for the small car park to alleviate the long-term controversy with locals over parking on the narrow road outside the quarry entrance, so once further funding for this has been secured and local residents are on board, work should commence. Sam says, "We are still in discussions about the car park and are facing a few issues with local occupants, but we hope to resolve these issues soon."

Thanks to BMC Access & Conservation Trust funding, the new ramp means safer, easier access to the climbs

MassonFest 2025

Thanks to this improved access, Nick and Sam are now able to reignite MassonFest, a dry tooling weekend event for people of all abilities, annually in October. Sam says, "MassonFest will be the UK's largest dry tooling festival! Hosting stalls from the BMC, Black Diamond, Petzl and more, it will be a great place for people of all abilities to check out the crag and learn a bit more about dry tooling. We will have live music, talks, free workshops and the use of demo kit. Camping will be allowed on site and so there's no need to trek back down into Matlock. Visit our website to find out more.

"The festival is suitable for anyone, from experienced dry toolers and ice climbers to people wanting to give it a go for the first time. Everyone is welcome! We will have an age limit for dry tooling, but there will be a few workshops running throughout the day to keep kids entertained. If anything, it's a chance to learn from expert dry toolers, regardless of the music, talks and workshops."

Sam and Nick have set up a Go Fund Me page for any quarry users or nature lovers who would like to support them with their plans for the site. Please give generously if you are passionate about access for climbers and dry toolers at Masson Lees Quarry.

Please help by lift-sharing

With the car park still to be created, parking is extremely limited in the lay-by on the narrow road opposite the entrance to Masson Lees Quarry and users must not park in passing places or so close to track entrances that large farm machinery cannot get in or out. Please lift-share, and if there is no useable space, please park further away and walk in. Thank you very much for observing these guidelines until further notice, updates and more information can be found on the Regional Access Database (RAD)

The last MassonFest was held at the quarry in October 2022 and welcomes everyone for a 'weekend of dry tooling fun'

Support Masson Lees Quarry

The access improvements at Masson Lees Quarry have been funded partly by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust. To support more work like this, please give generously to the Mend Our Mountains campaign.

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